A FIRE IN THE WIND
Chapter Thirty-Two
Silence filled the air like fog in London on
a hazy March morning. No one dared speak. That job was left for Rose. Cal
continued to stare at the priest. He thought this would happen. It was
humiliating for him of course, but he knew that Rose would come to her senses.
She needed a few seconds. That was all.
In the front row sat Ruth, waiting
apprehensively for Rose's answer. Her presence was similar to that of a bookie
during a horse race. Both had money on the line. The slightest change in words
could alter the whole course of Ruth's life.
Rose was dumbfounded. Her face looked like a
statue. Rose couldn't make the slightest movement. Her mind had turned into a
savage, chaotic war, two sides, and two answers floating back and forth. Only
one was dominant.
The priest was relieved to see Rose's mouth
open. They had been standing silently for nearly a minute.
Rose closed her eyes and spoke, "I
d--"
At that exact second the doors to the front
hallway opened and Allison Courtwell walked through the threshold.
"I'm so sorry I'm late!" Allison
let out, much too loud for an indoor voice. "I can't believe I'm late for
my best friend's wedding. And to think, I being the maid of honor should be the
first one here!"
Murmurs began being exchanged. Cal took a
glance at Allison in frustration. He had disliked Rose's friend from the
beginning, but this time she had gone too far. Cal looked back towards the
priest, unable to take in the minute. Rose kept staring at Allison. What was
going on? Allison had never acted this way before.
Ruth was skeptical of Allison's presence.
What was she doing making a fool of herself and ruining the ceremony?
"I am truly sorry. Please! Continue with
the ceremony!" Allison spoke in an all too remorseful tone of voice.
Mary shook her head. Rose had such an odd
friend. If only her friend had known that she could have stopped Rose from
making the worst decision of her life. Mary noticed a young man walk in behind
Allison. She didn't recognize him at all. He dressed like every other
gentleman, in a tuxedo, but there was something about him that seemed different.
Mary elbowed Molly lightly and whispered,
"Mrs. Brown, who is that gentleman standing next to the maid of honor?
What is he doing standing up like that? Is he the best man?"
Molly turned around and looked at the
gentleman at the back of the church, she smiled, and chuckled. "I guess
you can just call him the better man!"
Jack stood next to Allison nervously. He
didn't know what to expect next! He was almost certain that Ruth and Cal would
recognize him. What about Rose's cousin? Would she remember David?
Why wasn't Rose looking over at him? Did she
not see him? Jack was determined to stop the wedding.
At that moment the priest's voice boomed,
"Once again, do you, Rose DeWitt Bukater, take this man to be your
husband? To honor and obey him as long as you both shall live?"
Silence. Jack hated it. At any moment Rose
could be Cal's wife! He couldn't be a bystander to that! Ruth, Cal, and
Victoria. They had all been the problem. Society. It was what Rose had been
running from all these years, but she couldn't get away. She just couldn't.
'If she can't do something about it, I will,'
Jack thought.
"I--"
The word hit Jack like the iceberg that had
almost ruined his and Rose's life. He was about to speak up, but it was too
late. Rose was finishing her answer.
"--do not."
Gasps were exchanged throughout the room. The
whispers got louder and louder. Rose DeWitt Bukater denying Caledon Hockley,
the most eligible bachelor in America? How could it be possible? Out of all the
shock, all the gossip, all the humiliation, all Rose could do was laugh.
"ROSE!"
Rose turned around and gasped when she saw
Jack at the end of the hall.
The church grew quiet. All eyes turned to the
back of the church. Only when Cal saw Jack Dawson at the back of the church did
his palms begin to sweat.